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Words of Explanation by Larner	4 Review(s)
Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/1/2014
I love this! Of all the characters in LOTR, I think I most personally identify with Frodo and Sam for a lot of reasons. I love your portrayal of Sam in your stories. I've been considering the idea of reworking my idea of a Sam-centric story that I'd started in A Gardener's Tale, and if I can just get done with my current project or work out a way to do both at once without letting the lighter fanfic be a distraction from the heavier original work, this piece will certainly be a help. Author Reply: I know what you mean. Trying to balance writing and necessary repairs and redoing isn't always easy as once again I find myself having to do major cleanup after someone else. I do so hope that you can manage to balance your original writing and fanfiction. I know it's easier sometimes to throw off a single short story than to continue on with a heavy epic such as Stirring Rings. And I am so pleased you appreciate not only the way I portray Sam but this analysis of his character. Thank you so, my Lady!

Antsne	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 9/12/2013
A thoughtful and loving tribute to our dear Sam! I, too, love the image of him giving Faramir 'sauce' in the book. :) i think the Ring had no idea what it was up against when it challenged Sam to claim it. It would have succeeded in the end as it did with Frodo and would have with anyone, but Sam's love for his treasure is what saves him. My favorite part in the TTT movie is the attack on Sam at Osgiliath. Even with a sword at his throat held by the one he most loves, he still loves without skipping a beat and there is that loving, forgiving smile in the Tower that says so much without saying a word just as his smile in Houses of Healing express so much and their parting at the Grey Havens and hugging in the boat at the end FOTR. The movies excelled in showing this beautiful and pure love story in all its glory just as Frodo celebrated it in his reverent tribute to his friend of friends in the Red Book. Sam and Frodo were both filled with grace. He truly was Samwise in the sense that everyone recognizes. Three cheers for him! Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Yes, Sam was worthy of the honor all showed him, including the honor given him by the one he thought of always as his Master. Thank you so, Antane!

Teresa	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 9/7/2013
I quite agree Larner --- Sam was never a simple character. He might have seemed so to those who first met him or who preferred not to seriously consider who and what a person truly was in total. But then, many people don't bother to look below the surface of someone they meet to find the truth of the matter. Sam does come into his own on the quest as the others do, and when he returns to the Shire he is well prepared for his future role. But as you say, he was working towards that from his childhood onwards; and his parents, Bilbo and Frodo did their best to help him onward. The Gaffer might have felt that one should stay within one's class; but he respected the affection that grew between Frodo and Sam. There are indications that he was close to Bilbo, though their relationship was on a more formal basis. Perhaps if he had shared Bilbo's journey he'd have lightened up a bit, but he was willing to speak up whenever someone slandered the Baggins family. I think too that of the parents dealing with the Travellers' return the Gaffer handled it best at first. He just wanted to know if his son had given satisfaction and finished his mission as planned. Then he wanted to know if Sam and company would deal with the mess in the Shire. Once he was assured of those matters then he could wait for more details on everything. Pragmatic and practical, that's the Gaffer. It's that foundation that Sam brings to the quest and it supports his imagination, his actions, and his choices. It's not only Frodo that Sam stood by, but each member of the group. I'd like to think that one reason the Ring had such a hard time with subverting the company was the fact that all of them wanted to help each other and the rest of Middle Earth so much. Who know, maybe Boromir held out all those months because of that connection with the others. Sam's "plain hobbit sense" and unstinting care for the party as a whole could have buffered the Ring's malice as much as Frodo's direct wrestling did. As always, your essay has given me new ideas to consider about one of my favorite books and characters! Many thanks for posting this! :) Author Reply: I agree so. The group cohesiveness served to help Boromir hold out against the Ring's call to the last, and only when the group went a bit loopy worrying about what Frodo might choose to do, possibly seeking to deny them the chance to stand by him in the end, did the Ring manage to slip in through the cracks and disrupt Boromir's integrity sufficiently to encourage him to act upon his fears rather than his honor. And Sam was there by them all until the moment he knew he must stand by his Master first and foremost, and the others must from that moment on see to their own needs. But if someone hadn't stood by Frodo in that final assault on Mordor's borders, it would have been all over for all the world.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 9/7/2013
It’s unlikely that a person would be considered for the post of Mayor unless he was first a land-holder. What an interesting point. I hadn't thought of that before. Author Reply: Ownership of land was considered important throughout most of Britain and Europe's history, after all, as was true also in the colonies that sprang up in North America and the United States as well; therefore I'm reasonably certain that this was probably the norm in the Shire, too. Thanks so, Shirebound!

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